Plebes brought up in Slavery and have nothing to fight for of their own. "This brings to mind a Story a Gentleman told me that he went in to see his Negroe Man then dying, and seeing him just gone said to him, 'Cuffee, You are just going, are you not sorry? says the Fellow, 'Master, the Loss won't be mine.” No,' "Pardon the Length of this Letter, and be assured that I am "Your Honour's most obedient very humble Servant, "R. WOLCOTT. "The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire." "Sir: A Letter from Governor Fitch to Governor Hamilton. "As I am favoured with the Honour. of Your's of the Fourth Instant by Mr. Armstrong, at a Time I am obliged to attend Publick Business from Home, I can only just signify that I have perused Your's to Governor Wolcott as well as that to me, do well approve of the Notice you take of the attempt some of the People of this Colony are making, and the Concern You manifest for the general Peace of the British Interest and his Majestie's Service, which so much depend on a regular Proceeding in such Affairs. I know nothing of anything done by the Government to countenance such a Procedure as You intimate, and I conclude is going on among some of our People. I shall in all proper Ways use my Interest to prevent every thing that may tend any way to prejudice the general Good of these Governments, and am enclined to believe this wild Scheme of our People will come to nothing, tho' I can't certainly say. I heartily desire a good Harmony may subsist between your Government and others, and this in particular; I need not, if I had time, enlarge, seeing the worthy Bearer of your's (with whose Conversation and account concerning those affairs I was well satisfied and delighted) has, I suppose, received from Governor. Wolcott a more full and satisfactory Answer to your Honour. You'll please to command me further in this or in any other affair You shall think proper; all which shall be duly honoured by him, may it please your Honour, who is "Your Honour's obedient humble Servant, "Governor HAMILTON.” "THOS. FITCH. Mr. Armstrong reports, that the People of Connecticut are most earnestly and seriously determined to make a settlement on the Susquehannah within the Latitude of their Province, relying on the 49* words of their Grant, which extend to the South Sea, provided they can succeed in a Purchase of those Lands from the Six Nations, which they are now attempting by the Means of Col. Johnson and Mr. Lydius of Albany, having subscribed a thousand Pieces of Eight for that Purpose, each giving Four Dollars for what they call a Right. That some principal Persons in the Government covertly encourage them, and have paid their Constitutions; but he believes they will not be able to procure the open Countenance of the Government, nor any publick Act in favour of the Project. That many were staggered at his acquainting them with the Situation of Wyomink, and the Injunctions that had issued against setling it at the Instance of the Indians, and the Determination of the Government of Pennsylvania to make all the Opposition possible; And he has reason to think he opened the Eyes of abundance of People, which may have very good Effects. "The Governor directed the Secretary to inform the Council that since receiving the Letters of the Governor and Deputy Governor of Connecticut, and the Report of Mr. Armstrong, He had by Express from Justice Brodhead and Mr. Parsons been informed that several People in the County of Northampton had purchased Connecticut Rights, and expected their Agents this Spring to settle and put them into Possession of the Sasquehannah Lands, and that they desired his Advice what they as Justices ought to do; He had, therefore, thought it proper to apply to the Attorney General for his Opinion, which he had given, and his Honour had sent it to the Justices to be read in open Court, and along with it a Letter from the Chief Justice which he, having had several Informations given him by the Inhabitants of the County of Northumberland to the same Effect as Mr. Brodhead's and Mr. Parson's Information, had thought proper to send to them on the Occasion.. Case for the Attorney General. "It appears by the Informations of Daniel Brodhead and William Parsons, Two of his Majestie's Justices of the Peace for the County of Northampton, that many Persons, the Natural born Subjects of his Majesty, now residing in this and some of the neighbouring Provinces, have openly declared their Intention in a Body to possess themselves of and settle upon a large Tract of Land in this Province lying on the Sasquehannah River, and commonly called Wyomink, without any Lycence or Grant from Our Honourable Proprietaries or Authority from the Government, which Intention they have also declared they will carry into Execution this Spring. "This Tract of Land has not yet been purchased of the Six Nation Indians, but has hitherto been reserved and is now used by them for their hunting Ground. "The Government of Pennsylvania by their Treaties with those Indians stand engaged not to permit any Persons to settle upon Lands within the Bounds of the Province that have not been purchased from them. Hence it is apprehended those Indians may interpret such a Settlement a Violation of our Treaties-and may be induced to commit Hostilities that would be attended with Consequences most dangerous at this Juncture. "2. If any Persons give out in Speeches that they are going to possess themselves of this Tract of Land, and persuade Others to go with them, and are making Preparation to go accordingly, Or if they shall presume to go and settle there, Is it Lawful for the Justices of the Peace to cause such Persons to be arrested and imprisoned? "To enter upon and scize the Lands of the Proprietaries or Others without their Permission are Acts against the Laws, and manifest Breaches of the Public Peace. Such offences by a multitude are of dangerous Example and highly penal, as they tend to Sedition, and are likely to terminate in Capital Crimes. "If any Persons, by Words or Actions, discover an Intention to disturb the Publick Peace they may be arrested and imprisoned until they give sufficient Security to keep the Peace and be of good Behaviour. "Therefore, if it shall be made appear to any Justice of the Peace by Oath or Affirmation that any Persons have engaged themselves in the unlawful Design mentioned in the State of this Case, or have done any Acts tending to promote it, I am of Opinion it will be the Duty of such Justice to issue his Warrants to apprehend those Persons, and upon their being arrested to commit them to Goal unless they give Securities to appear at the next Quarter Sessions to answer for their Offences, and in the mean time to keep the Peace and be of good Behaviour, such as the Justice in his Discretion shall think reasonable. "18th March, 1754." "TENCH FRANCIS. His Honour once intended to send Mr. Weiser to Onondago to put the Indians on their Guard against being imposed on by the Agents of Connecticut for a Grant of Lands within this Province, but Mr. Weiser, who was consulted thereon, thinking it would be better to transact the Business at Albany, He dropped that Intention and wrote the following Letter to Col. Johnson: "Sir: “PHILADELPHIA, 20th March, 1754. "I am informed that a Party of private People residing in the Province of Connecticut, under a Pretence of some extensive Words in their Charter, have published their Intention, even among our own Inhabitants, of coming this Spring in a Body into this Province and forcibly setling some of the Proprietarie's Lands in the very Centre of our Province, and that they were likewise hardy enough to make this known to the Government of Connecticut, who disavowing their Proceedings they thereupon turned their Thoughts towards the Indians of the Five Nations, and having made up a Purse to give them for their Right to those Lands, they, as I am further informed, now intend to apply to you for your Interest and Sollicitation in their Behalf with those Indians. "Though I have not the Honour of your personal acquaintance, yet from your Character both publick and private, which is well known to me, I should not entertain the least Doubt that you would encourage a Party of private men, as this is disavowed by their own Government to make Contracts with the Indians for the Sale of Lands either in this or Connecticut Province, being contrary to the Laws of both Places, and productive of many fatal consequences. "Nor can I have the least Suspicion that if the Application was made openly to the Council of Onondago, with whom this Government only treats for Lands, as they know their Engagements to sell to our Proprietaries all the Lands within this Province when their Indians shall incline to leave them, or the Encrease of the Inhabitants requires a larger Extent of Country; but they would reject the Application of these People with the greatest Indignation as contrary to the Faith of Treaties subsisting between this Province and their Nations, and particularly as their own Indians now live on these Lands and use them for hunting; and they have repeatedly in their Treaties besought this Government that they might not be setled, and Proclamations at their Instance have accordingly issued, strictly charging all Persons to forbear making any Settlements in those Parts of the Province. "But the Indians being liable to the Temptation of Liquor, and when disordered therewith apt to be imposed on, and for Money grant any Applications from any Body for Lands, though when sober they would condemn themselves and be sorry for what they had done, I am apprehensive if they are not put upon their Guard that these Practices may be tried upon them and these ill-minded People when they have got Indian Deeds, no matter how obtained, nor from whom, may set up these Titles and so pervert the Minds of the Inhabitants and introduce intestine Broils and endless Disorders amongst Us. "Knowing your Zeal for the Publick Good of the Colonies, and the Regards frequently shewn by you in your early Intelligences to this Province, I entreat you would be pleased to put the Indians upon their Guard, as opportunity serves you, against the attempts of these People, which you must be sensible might not only alienate the affections of the Six Nations by taking from them against their will the Possession of a favourite Part of the Country, but might also draw on a civil War within this Province, as the Government would be obliged to oppose such tumultuous Settlements and Intrusions, and thus prove particularly hurtful to the general Interest at this time, when the French have actually invaded this Province, and we are likely to be involved in a War to repel them. "As this Government has determined to send Commissioners to the general Interview at Albany, I shall direct some of the Commissioners to wait on You in Order to confer further with you of what may be necessary to be done on this Occasion, and in the mean time I shall be much obliged to you to use your good Offices in behalf of this Government, so far as that nothing may be done with the Indians by the Connecticut agents, or any others in their Behalf, to the Injury of the Proprietaries of this Province. "I am, Sir, your very humble Servant, "JAMES HAMILTON. |